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I have a nearly 8 month old male cat but he is the size of the average 3 month old kitten. He acts like one too and still nurses off my other cat. What is the matter with him?
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Why is my cat so small?
- Thread starter penelopekitty
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Has he been checked out by the vet? I have a cat who is 7# full grown, she is smaller than my other cats. She is just small by nature. I have another one who should probably weigh about 6# who is 9#. Some cats are just smaller, but there are health conditions that can stunt growth. I had a cat who nursed off my collie it's entire life.
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He got a check up 2 months ago and the vet wasn't concerned about it so I guess I shouldn't be either.
What's his exact weight?
Do you have a photo? Is he proportionally normal?
If the vet isn't concerned you should be ok. I have a small cat, she weights 5.5 lbs now as an adult and I was always concerned because she was tiny. I took her to a cat specialist and was told by not to worry that cats are like people some are big and some are small and some are medium. If your cat is eating, you can't easily feel his bones, and he just looks like a miniature cat, I wouldn't worry, if the vet cleared him. You just have a petite cat or may also have the breed that has the short legs. I have a normal sized cat as well, but with short breed, I found her as an adult and she is permanently "short"
I agree with posting a photo. I assume he is eating fine/enough? Does he seem active and such? He is still a kitten and will have a few more growth spurts yet, though if he is really the size of a "3 month old kitten" at 8 months I would be inclined to take him to the vet again to check him out as he should grow quite a bit over the first year of his life even if ultimately he does not turn out to be a very big cat. You saw the vet a couple months ago, so if these are new concerns, I would go as a lot can change in 2 months. Has he got bigger since that last vet visit?
My cat is almost 3, and she just is a small cat (<6 lbs). Perfectly healthy, just smaller than the "average" house cat.
My cat is almost 3, and she just is a small cat (<6 lbs). Perfectly healthy, just smaller than the "average" house cat.
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He is about 1 and a half pounds. He eats a lot.
High quality wet and dry food.
Aaaaw your kittie is really cute, just by looking at I can tell its another breed. I'm not quite sure which one but it looks either Himlayan or Angora as they both got the blue eyes and that type of fur. I'm not an expert but my friend has an angora and the breed is small by nature.
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He's a ragdoll and Persian mix. They are both smaller breeds but I don't think he should be that small for his age.
Hes really adorable, and he is a small breed to begin with. I know when we got Bruce he was little, but thats only cause we were'nt feeding him enough. He gets wet food and dry food. All my cats before wld get can catfood and there wld be a bowl of dry catfood always there.
Ragdolls do take longer to mature than plain ole cats
, however, he does seem awfully tiny for his age. Does he have any actual siblings? What are their sizes? Is your Vet actually familiar with his breed? I would say 1.5 lbs for an 8 month old Ragdoll is way too little, since from everything Ive read about them is they are NOT a small breed. Un-neutered ragdoll males can average from 15 - 20 lbs. I'm guessing too, that at his weight, you have NOT been able to neuter him, am I right?
Another member has a cat who has officially been diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism I believe. I supposed it's possible that's what your little guy has, She said her cat looks normal in every way, just very VERY tiny. And she eats like a horse. Sound familiar? Here is her thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264036/need-advice-on-very-special-kitten You might want to ask your Vet about this condition
OH, BTW, your little guy as absolutely ADORABLE
Another member has a cat who has officially been diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism I believe. I supposed it's possible that's what your little guy has, She said her cat looks normal in every way, just very VERY tiny. And she eats like a horse. Sound familiar? Here is her thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264036/need-advice-on-very-special-kitten You might want to ask your Vet about this condition
OH, BTW, your little guy as absolutely ADORABLE
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Hi
I've had cats since I was a child, I can't remember not having cats around :-) and our cats were all sizes, colours and shapes! More recently, we've moved and settled into a house for over 15 years and we had our two rescue cats, who are still with us! They're the same age and from the same litter but the male is much bigger. Then 5 years ago my son brought our male tabby home from a week away, after his friend's father didn't allow his son to keep him. He was tiny when we got him, despite being almost 4 months, but is now the hugest cat I have ever had in my life. Then a year or so ago we got a tabby kitten who desperately needed a home, she was supposedly 10 weeks but as soon as we got her it was obvious she was probably only about 7 weeks. She was big enough, but was still sucking a blanket, which she still does, and we reckon she had been taken from her mum way too soon. She is a year old now, healthy and happy, very lively, eats well, a mix of wet, dry, fish, chicken, tuna and occssionally lamb.
I think this illustrates that cats can be big or small, and so long as this doesnt mean fat or skinny then it is normal. Being taken from their mums too early can affect a cat's size. Just like humans, if the infant is eating a mixed or even non milk diet before theyre ready too this can stunt the growth.
All the cats weve ever had who were offspring of our existing cats, therefore able to feed from mum for up to 16 weeks, or that we knew hadn't been taken from their mum until about 12 weeks, have all been big'uns. And our current older cats, we were told when they were rescued from a multi cat hoarder household, the female was pregnant and her kittens died inside her, but her brother was suckling from her ( when they were aged 6 months!) No wonder he is bigger than her.
All this just shows the importance of getting your cats neutered/spayed, and if you are offered kittens, try to educate the mother's owner that kittens should stay put until 12 weeks. Personally I am against selling kittens, as there is too much misery involved down the line.
As long as your kitty is happy and healthy then being small is OK, our little Amy would agree! Anyone genuinely worried should go to the get, as you did, for reassurance.
I've had cats since I was a child, I can't remember not having cats around :-) and our cats were all sizes, colours and shapes! More recently, we've moved and settled into a house for over 15 years and we had our two rescue cats, who are still with us! They're the same age and from the same litter but the male is much bigger. Then 5 years ago my son brought our male tabby home from a week away, after his friend's father didn't allow his son to keep him. He was tiny when we got him, despite being almost 4 months, but is now the hugest cat I have ever had in my life. Then a year or so ago we got a tabby kitten who desperately needed a home, she was supposedly 10 weeks but as soon as we got her it was obvious she was probably only about 7 weeks. She was big enough, but was still sucking a blanket, which she still does, and we reckon she had been taken from her mum way too soon. She is a year old now, healthy and happy, very lively, eats well, a mix of wet, dry, fish, chicken, tuna and occssionally lamb.
I think this illustrates that cats can be big or small, and so long as this doesnt mean fat or skinny then it is normal. Being taken from their mums too early can affect a cat's size. Just like humans, if the infant is eating a mixed or even non milk diet before theyre ready too this can stunt the growth.
All the cats weve ever had who were offspring of our existing cats, therefore able to feed from mum for up to 16 weeks, or that we knew hadn't been taken from their mum until about 12 weeks, have all been big'uns. And our current older cats, we were told when they were rescued from a multi cat hoarder household, the female was pregnant and her kittens died inside her, but her brother was suckling from her ( when they were aged 6 months!) No wonder he is bigger than her.
All this just shows the importance of getting your cats neutered/spayed, and if you are offered kittens, try to educate the mother's owner that kittens should stay put until 12 weeks. Personally I am against selling kittens, as there is too much misery involved down the line.
As long as your kitty is happy and healthy then being small is OK, our little Amy would agree! Anyone genuinely worried should go to the get, as you did, for reassurance.
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I have a mix female Ragdoll. Dad is Ragdoll, Mom is Domestic Calico, Both regular size. Mom had 8 kittens they were all regular size. This one I kept because it was so tiny since she was born. She is 3 months, still tiny. Eats normal and plays a lot. Looks normal but have not grown much.
My kitty will be 6 months and he will not grow any more he's a bigger then he was but not by much. And he ears like a pig..
Hi There!
Some cats are just small. They come in all sizes just like people do. That's good that he has a good appetite. He's still growing and will continue to for a while. he may have a growth spurt before he's done but he just might be small. Do you know if he was the runt of his litter?
My 2 girls are both small. They are doll faced Persians and small ones. My Lily is about 6 pounds and her sister Sophie is even smaller. She might be 5 pounds. They are both very healthy, happy and active. They are just small. They are also fierce and feisty little things. Lily is queen of the house and reminds my boy Henry who is easily twice her size and my dog Bailey who is 40 pounds of this every day. She takes no nonsense from anyone.
Do you have a picture of your little guy? Welcome to TCS!
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I am not sure why your kitty is so small, but he is absolutely adorable ! I would check again with the vet to see if he has any condition such as pituitary dwarfism. However if the vet has said that he is alright perhaps this is true.I assume that the vet would have thought about what could be the reason. He is such a cute baby! As long as he is eating well he will probably grow some anyway. I think he is one of those just smaller kitties. Enjoy him he is darling.
